This week at the Westin Harbour Castle hotel, Toronto hosted the Transportation Association of Canada Annual Conference, Canada’s largest gathering of transportation professionals.  This year’s theme was Transportation – A Key to a Sustainable Future.  Sustainability was certainly a buzzword heard throughout the conference.  About half of the 150 papers that were presented were related to that theme.  Minister Jim Bradley stated that “sustainability strengthens Ontario’s economic advantage”, and Mayor David Miller that “sustainability is at the core of the city’s values”. Much knowledge was transfered and many ideas were shared.  I was there for a few of the sessions; here are a few of my highlights.

Rob MacIsaac on Transforming Transportation in the GTHA. He discussed the transportation challenges we face, such as: 3 million more people and 1.5 million more cars in the next 30 years; $6.2 billion as the annual cost of congestion in terms of time, fuel, increased accidents, impacts of emissions, and lost economic activity; bickering about which level of goverment would pay for transit improvements, forgetting that sustanainability pays for itself.  He talked about the five objectives of the Regional Transportation Plan: 1) reducing demands on the system 2) increases in choices for travel 3) meeting travellers/shippers needs 4) building communities that make travel easier 5) commit to continuous improvement.  He even ended with a plug for Metronauts!

Panel Discussion on Transportation Sustainability: from Policy to Reality.  The panel included Bruce McCuaig (Ontario Ministry of Transportation), Allan Humpreys (Alberta Public Service), Gary Welsh (City of Toronto), John Hubbell (City of Calgary).  A major theme was making other modes more attractive to get people out of cars.  It takes leadership from the top to enable bold moves.

Panel Discussion on Tools for Change.  The topics of Value Engineering, Greenmodes, Green guide for roads, and the West Don Lands were discussed.  The push for change on how we design roads is coming from all directions: oil industry, community, politicians.  We need to be looking for better examples from around the world and bringing them home.

Workshop on Active Transportation. Jacky Kennedy (Green Communities Canada), Daniel Egan (City of Toronto, Manager of pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure), and Marc Jolicoeur (Research Coordinator at Velo Quebec) gave short presentations.  Participants broke into groups to discuss the communities they live and work in, and what successes and challenges have been had with respect to active transportation.  It was a thought-provoking and inspiring exercise.

Tour of TTC’s St. Clair Avenue West dedicated streetcar right-of-way. With 7 contracts totalling $80 million dollars, this high profile project is controversial because local councillors and public were concerned how the right-of-way could be shared equitably between competing use of streetcars, vehicles, pedestrians, and what effects this would have on local business.

I think it was fitting that on Sept 22, what is International Car Free Day, the transportation professionals at TAC were in fact discussing how to get cars off the road.  At lunch I wandered over to Yonge & Dundas to see Toronto’s car-free day celebrations.  Yonge street was closed to vehicles from Dundas St. to Shuter St.  Various advocacy groups had set up booths, there was a giant scrabble game in the street, a rock band played in Dundas Square, and I noticed David Miller and Adam Giambrone talking with various groups of people in front of a TTC bus on display.

It was interesting to see that many people still used the sidewalk even when a road is closed to traffic.  I decided to walk on the wild side, right down the centre line!

I think Angela Bischoff of Take the Tooker captured the essence of the event in her Seuss-inspired prose.

Bring horns and bells and drums.  Bring your friends.  Bring your mums.
Bring bikes and trikes and things that are silly.
Bring costumes and banners and wings that are frilly.
Bring sense of humour, and sense of fun.
We’ll party like our team just won.

Some Photos from Toronto’s Carfree Day: